This is my first yelp review and I don't do reviews. Â But, for Wang Chungs I would probably do anything. Â One Word "AWESOME!!!". Â I have never had this much fun with strangers in a karaoke bar in my life. Â Everyone there are so so super friendly, the drinks are wonderful. Â It feels like your in a small karaoke room without having to pay the hourly rates. Â So, it feels more intimate and homely. Â Weather your a great singer or not they won't judge...LOL!!! Which is great because at Wang Chungs it's all about FUN. Â Thank you for such a wonderful night Dan, Cory, Henry and Bryan... you guys are the BEST!!! See you guys again soon!
Review Source:Honestly though, this place is not as good as it gets. IT NEEDS TO BE BIGGER ! So the sexiness can have more room to grow and consume more people.
Wang Chung's is a very small, hidden in the alley gay bar in Waikiki. You can find in an alley next to King's Village. That's the building with Rock Island Cafe and Burger King fronting it.
By small, I mean SMALL. Maybe the size of a studio apartment, with the bar taking up a portion of it.
Despite it's size, there are chairs along the wall, along the bar, and the patrons who come are friendly and don't mind sharing the tiny space. It's a place people come to just have fun and enjoy themselves!
The drinks are hand crafted, and they apparently make parts of them in house (like the lychee vodka). But they are pricey at $7+ . During happy hour they're a $1 off though and the place has free karaoke. Outside of HH is $1 a song which is the usual.
Beware though, the song cue can get super long at this place. You would think not because the limited amount of people it can fit, but man the patrons like to sing!
Sometimes I feel intimidated coming, because I'm not a "regular" and there are definitely people who are. But if I let myself free and just not feel judged, I am guaranteed a nice time.
The workers are friendly, the place has a relaxing and fun vibe, and the drinks are delicious. I just wish there was room to dance and move a little because my butt likes to shake.
My boy Rusty took me out here for some fun and tasty lychee drinks made by Cory. Had a good time listening to people sing, talk about boys, and shoes. Especially meeting Dan and sharing some giggles!
I love all the Asian inspired decor and Domo. Karaoke is 1 dollar, and everything is online! No more binders and trying to find music in the dark and private rooms! LOL
Wang Chungs needs to open up in San Diego... just saying... xoxo
Wang Chung's is by far the BEST karaoke bar that I have ever been too! Â No Lie!
The Break-down:
   -  Friendly and cute bartenders! wink, wink
   -  Deliciously strong drinks!! I loved this glowing green, peppermint Christmas Â
     drink they made for me last time! yummm
   -  Huge and current song selection at the touch of your fingertips!! One Direction
     anyone???
  -   Charming space with spectacularly FIERCE Asia-Mania wall murals (perfect for
     those spontaneous Instagram photo shoots!!! haha
  -   A hidden, MAGICAL restroom!!!
  -   An unbelievably fun atmosphere!
Wang Chung's is a no-judgement zone where it's all about having fun with friends and total random strangers! Â
Here, you will find crowd of locals and visiting tourists, gay and straight, from all walks of life that will....guarantee....provide you with one of the most memorable karaoke experiences ever!
I LUURRRV WANG CHUNG'S!!!
The BEST!!! Dan welcomed us like he knew us for a long time!! Cory is the bartender that me and my friend became friends with when we came to Hawaii last year, and for a whole year that passed... He still remembered us!! They are so friendly. The place is small but its very intimate!! When u guys go there... Ask Cory to make u the Sakura shot that he made for us... It's the best!! Will make sure to go to this bar every time I come back! Love them all from the bottom of my heart!!
Review Source:I feel like I'm gonna get hated for not giving this place 5 stars... but this is a small bar tucked away in the corner in Waikiki. The nearest parking for us was like $10 for the night. That's kinda pricey, but I guess since it's Waikiki that's what you'll have to pay...?
Anyways, the people at the bar were all really nice and even though you didn't know the people there everyone just started singing along together to the karaoke songs. It's a clean bar with a secret door for their bathroom. I guess I can't give this place 5 stars because once it got packed, it was hard to move around... I sure hope they expand soon!
Wang Chung's is pretty amazing. Â The cocktails are delicious. Â The karaoke selection is MASSIVE, and you never have to wait to see the karaoke book because you can peruse the songs on your smart phone. Â They even have QR codes that link to their song list floating around the bar. Â
Walking in for the first time can be a little intimidating, though. Â The bartender flashes you a smile without missing a beat as he makes gourmet cocktails and punches songs into the karaoke machine. Â EVERYONE inside seems to be having one of the best nights of their lives. Â The walls are painted with looming faces and stuffed animals/figurines seem ready to attack at all sides. Â But once you get your bearings, and maybe settle your nerves with a cocktail, you realize you've stumbled upon something really special. Â You'll feel especially special if the Dan, the owner, is there. Â I've only met Dan a few times, but he always makes you feel like a guest of honor.
Wang Chungs is a must-do for every Waikiki bar crawl!
This is a must for anyone who is in Waikiki for fun and libations. A tiny little tucked away jewel of a karaoke bar that is like no other place on the island. Wang Chung's is a mixture of friendliness and comradery that is truly unique for a bar. It's a kin to your gang's sweetest friend who throws the best parties every night in their studio apartment with a steady supply of killer drinks.
I love the owner! He is such a darling. Anyone who throws me air kisses will always win my heart. Seriously, I have never encountered such a friendly owner. He always introduces himself to the newbies I'll bring and give them a genuine hug. The bartenders are just as great. Very sweet and patient no matter how long it takes you to decide what to order.
The homemade ginger beer for $4 is a must try for the insatiable ginger fiend. Perfect for those who are responsible drivers. I've never been disappointed by any of the drinks. My personal favorites are the Key Lime Pie which is decadent. Anyone who has a sweet tooth will fall in lust with. The Ginger & Mary Anne is refreshing and of course delicious. Just a few that popped in my head, which clearly means you should find out what else is available for yourself!
The song selection is extensive and costs a dollar (or should I a dollah) per song. You can access the collection through your phone if you have an internet collection which is so handy and still amazes. Make sure to put your song in as quickly as possible since a queue almost always forms quickly. Just sit back, make some new friends and  sip on a tasty drink while you wait to embarrass yourself that you are probably one of the worst singers in the joint because some people are disgustingly great singers!
My friend and I dropped by a couple times during our 1 week stay in Waikiki. Â We loved the kick back vibe and everyone was so friendly! Â After a couple drinks, we were singing along with everyone in the whole bar. Â Plus, their drinks are phenomenal. Â I find it awesome when a bartender really knows how to make an awesome drink, which really shows complexity to the flavors, not just relying on a ton of alcohol to knock you off your feet. Â Cheers!
Review Source:Teeny tiny space with good drinks and totally fun people. There is no karaoke stage, just a couple of mics that get passed around. It's a good idea to select your songs ahead of time from the website. There's WiFi with a password they will provide (cell reception in and out), but it's kind of a pain because the list on <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwangchungs.com%2Fsongs&s=93847175c6da23f89cda3ad1e1c681f84e13f90d8f326dea1e7deedf77c16f9e" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://wangchungs.com/so…</a> is not in any particular order.
After you've made your selection, turn in your song number(s) with a dollar for each request to the bartender (there are small pieces of paper provided), sit back, and enjoy!!! Hopefully you won't get some obnoxious duo singing over you (eh-hem, I mean me and Duck). ... oh, hey, speaking of duck, there is a karaoke bar with private rooms that we wanted to go to first called Duck Butt. Still wanting to head that way, but we hadn't made a reservation ... just in case you want your own space.
Prices fair. Really nice friendly folks. I received a lei for my birthday and a lot of attention. Definitely a place to which to return.
Wang Chung's came to me as a private recommendation from a yelp friend who saw my "check-in" on Hawaii Airlines. Â This, friends, is why one should check-in regularly, amass yelp friends whose recommendations you trust, and follow the lead of those who came before you. Â I never would've found this spot if left to my own devices. Â Fact is, I could barely find this spot even with the recommendation.
With address in hand, I approached what looked like a small office complex on a Waikiki side street and saw not a single sign to tip me to the presence of Wang Chung's. Â I could hear some music, vaguely, but lacked the chutzpah to waltz through an unmarked door in search of music until, lucky for me, a couple walked up behind me and I heard the girl say "is Wang Chung's still here?" to her date. Â She walked past me, pushed open the door, and I followed her inside. Â Voila; there was Wang Chung's. Â
Wang Chung's is a single room, smaller than my living room, with a full bar, two karaoke screens, and two microphones. Â When I went in, a gal seated at the bar was belting out an Adele song (excellently) into the microphone and another bar patron immediately jumped up and offered me his seat. Â Two drinks later, I got the 411 on how this place works: Â On your smart phone, pull up Wang Chung's website and search the music catalog or search for a song or artist of your choice. Â At the bar, there's paper and pens. Â Use them to record the number of the song you want, and hand it to the bartender along with the $1 per song fee. Â (You can run a tab on credit if you choose). Â Watch the screen for your number, and observe how many songs are in the queue (both are in constant display on the screens). Â When your number is up and before your song starts, shout out for the microphone and let the fun begin.
As a drinking (non-singing) patron, the fun begins anew with every song. Â WC's gets a happy crowdful of very welcoming people with smiles plastered on their faces. Â Everyone is having fun here, even the singing bartenders, and it shows. Â Â This is a great crowd and a great place and I would've thought less of Waikiki had I not found it. Â There were some seriously good singers the night I went, a few not so great (though everyone still cheered their support), and an epic group rendition of Garth Brooks "Friends in Low Places". Â
If you find yourself in Waikiki don't hesitate to follow those sounds of music and push open that unmarked door. Â It's your entree to a really fun night.
We decided to wrap up the weekend w/karaoke & drinks @ Wang Chung's. Â Ooops, didn't mean to stay so late but got swept up in the fun! Â Scored enough bar stools upon entering & made fast friends with the rest of the bar patrons. Â I luv luv luv their housemade ginger beer. Â Try the housemade jalapeno taquila if you dare - hot, hot, hot! Â The housemade lychee vodka is yummy - I wonder how many of the lychees who gave up their essense I can handle? Â Since they soaked up pure booze probably a half, hahaha. Â
We started the evening with Grayson our friendly mixologist - what a sweet guy - and ended with Brian who can belt out those songs. Â Brian is a tough act to follow - that dude has skills! Â Such a warm welcoming spot where hugs are generally available when you depart. Â
P.S. Â Check out their top shelf special Italian wine bottle. Â wink wink.
This place is small. Â Like smaller than my bedroom. Â But it kind of adds to the charm of the place.
As soon as we walked in, Dan (owner) came in and welcomed us to the bar with a warm hug. Â The bartender was busy so he personally mixed the drinks for us himself. Â Wow, the Mangotini is amazing! Â Sweet with a lot of mango flavor, you cannot taste the alcohol. Â Dangerous, very dangerous. Â Some of the other drinks were good too but the Mangotini was by far our favorite.
There were about 10-15 other people in the room and all of them were good singers. Â Shockingly good, especially both cute bartenders! Â
We were too shy to sing at first but Dan bought us a round of drinks to encourage us and off we went :)
Love the place, the people, the personality. Â A whole in the wall full of fun!
Side note, LOVE that their business cards are player cards. Â Very unique!
My boyfriend and I went to this tiny bar and it felt like we were in an episode of cheers. Everyone was so friendly. Their homemade lychee vodka was delicious and so is the mangotini. If your straight and looking to get laid, this is not the place for you. check it out for yummy drinks, and fun Karaoke with a great crowd.
Review Source:This place is definitely small. Like smaller than my living room small. But when you enter, a cute young Asian guy greets you with a smile and a hug. I had just assumed that this guy was friends with someone I was with but he was actually the owner, Dan.
I spent a solid minute looking for a song booklet but Wang Chung's has done away with that innovating instead to be able to search for songs on its website. Songs are a dollar each, which you can put on your tab. Drinks are also ridiculously cheap - just stay away from the jalapeno vodka, it made a bunch of our group gag in regret.
The crowd was amazing. Aside from the usual sorority girl group singing Gaga or Taylor Swift, I got the impression that a lot of locals and regulars come here and damn, they were amazing. I told one girl she needed to audition for American Idol, X-Factor or The Voice. She was good enough for any of them. Another surprise was a skinny bifocal-wearing white guy rapped well and I admit he was pretty fly for a white guy.
This place has character, which is extremely important for a karaoke bar. Dan has done a great job and his energy is infectious.
Such a fun little bar! Â Wang Chung's is located down a small alley in near King's Court. Â Right next door to Iyasume Musubi! Â My friend wanted to sing karaoke so we ended up here!
Happy Hour is from 5-8 so make sure you come during that time. Â Less people, cheaper drinks, and free karaoke. Â The drinks are $1 cheaper and the songs are free, after 8pm the songs are $1 each. Â When we got there around 6:15pm on a Saturday night, there were only about 5-6 other people with us. Â Nobody was singing karaoke yet so it was very quiet. Â After people got some drinks in them and the bartender himself sang a song, the fun started! Â
The songs are online, so use their free wifi and your smartphone to search for any song that you want to sing. Â There are 2 mikes so you don't have to sing alone. Â Since it was a small atmosphere it doesn't seem as nerve-wracking as the solo stage kind of karaoke. Â We just kept choosing songs and passing the mikes around the bar. Â We sang all types of songs from Wonderwall, Womanizer, Tik Tok, Kiss Me, and Tequila! Â
Our bartender was Grayson and he was super nice and made sure to ask everyone their name, unless he knew them already. Â The drinks are DELICIOUS! Â You have to try the Lychee Co-tini, which uses their lychee infused vodka but my favorite was the mangotini. Â It tasted like a mango was just sqeezed into my mouth. Â Amaze-balls.
I would definitely come back to this little bar for the great happy hour. Â No food though. Â The drinks are great and the singing is fun and non-judgmental haha. Â Make sure to stop by here!
Clean and pretty bathroom too!
I finally made it Wang Chung's after hearing about this place like three years ago. Â I met Dan, the owner of Wang Chung and was immediately drawn to his cute energy. Â He is like a bundle of joy. Â Too cute.
Wang Chung's is small. Â Like very small. Â Although that it is small, it attracts a large crowd. Â I was surprised to see the place crowded on Christmas eve. Â They have a unique and diverse drink list. Â
If you like to sing karaoke, then sing your hearts desires out. Â They do not use physical karaoke binders to search for songs as all the songs are listed on their website. Â Use your smart phone or borrow a friendly neighbors and retrieve a song to sing your heart out. Â
The bathroom is unique as it is concealed to blend into the wall. Â
I paid for parking at the garage which was $10; so if you find street parking you are in luck.
I will definitely  return here.  The staff and people are friendly here.  It makes me miss Hawaii.
"Park at King's Court. Walk down the street past the Japanese restaurant. Turn down the tiny alley, past the Japanese restaurant. Its a small door on the right." Â That's how my night at Wang Chung's started.
I can't believe its taken me to get to Wang Chung's. But I'd had a crummy day and decided to finally go to get out of my funk. And it was totally worth it! Â WANG CHUNGS IS THE ANSWER TO A CRUMMY DAY. Â Intimate. Fun. Friendly. Â I mean the bartenders make killah drinks AND take turns on the Karaoke mic. Â I just can't imagine anyone coming here and feeling out of place or out of sorts. The vibe is just so casual and aloha.
Wang Chung's gets extra bonus points for being immensely popular despite its hidden location in a tiny space. The place is tiny. I mean like 10 bar stools tiny. Here's the good news: you won't wait long for a drink. Or your song. Â Speaking of the songs, songs are free during Happy Hour (which goes until 8PM)!!
I love that there is wifi, that the song list is accessed digitally (bring you're phone or tablet) via a QR code. Â They don't serve food, but they will let you bring food in, which I think is cool.
So if you go, eat first, Â bring your smart phone and be prepared to have fun.
EVERYBODY HAVE FUN TONIGHT. EVERYBODY WANG CHUNG TONIGHT.
I love this place! We came here twice in our five day stay in Oahu. The drinks are inexpensive, the crowd was friendly, and the bartenders are AMAZING singers! Â You pay $1 per song, which is chosen off an online list (no books) so make sure your smartphone isn't dead before you come here. Â There are only about 10 seats at the bar and room for maybe ten more behind it, so it's a tiny, tiny place, but SO MUCH FUN. Â Unlike those karaoke joints where you have to stand on a stage, this is a friendly atmosphere where you can sing on your own or with the entire room. Â On our last visit, the owner (Dan) ordered pizza and passed it around the bar, for free! Â This place is like someone's cool living room with a gigantic bar. Â I was surprised at the liquor selection. They have two or three beers on tap and a variety of shots/cocktails. Â Dan even made me a drink that tasted like pandan waffles, and I saw another bartender brewing hot green tea for another patron. Â Try their lychee-infused vodka! That stuff is so delicious it's dangerous.
Happy hour from 5-8 will get you a $1 discount on all drinks and free karaoke!
I'm so excited that Wang Chung's gets to be my first review. I'm new to yelp, I've had this account for awhile and I decided to start using it after I was invited to a Yelp event last month by James G, Thanks James! I'm not a writer so bear with me guys...
Now, if you've ever been to Wang's, chances are that you have probably ran into my mommy and little sister who are regulars there. You guys know Joanne and Julia? Yeah I thought so!
It's a little hole in the wall, if you didn't know it was there, you would miss it completely. You walk in and might be surprised at how small it is, but don't be fooled, everyone there is warm and inviting. For me the size kind of makes everything feel more personal. You really get to know your bartenders and fellow singers!
Everyone there is super sweet, and they take great care of my family! I've been there a bunch of times and the vibe in there is amazing. I'm use to drunken madness in Waikiki, but Wang's is full of people who are just there to have fun! I've been there with a bunch of different friends and everyone loves it! Â My friends come claiming they're never going to sing.. and by the end of the night everyone is jamming!
Even though it's labeled as a gay bar, straight people love it too! The drinks are delicious, and of course.. make singing more fun!
Parking is kinda tough, but it IS Waikiki. I promise ... totally worth it!
I am torn on this one. The crowd was super friendly including the bartenders. Unfortunately there is no fairness integrated into the karaoke system so that the same person can sing 2 or even 3 times in a row before you get to sing. Also, there are two microphones in the room and sometimes the locals feel they can just pick up the other microphone and sing with you. I'm sorry, that's just rude. You've waited 30 minutes to sing and then someone else gets to duet with you? In the words of Alanis, you're uninvited. Great cocktails.
Review Source:Saraoke Birthday Party!
I love how you can throw parties at Wang Chungs and have a good time singing karaoke and just drinking the night away.
Great way to meet strangers who are friendly...but super packed on the weekends! Just be ready to squeeze your way through the doors to have a fabulous time! :)
I was invited to this gay-friendly, tiny little hole in the wall place for a friend's alternative lifestyle birthday. Â Everybody was super friendly! It was like going to a someone's living room for drinking & karaoke. Â Drinks were pricy but were poured generously! Â See my picture.
Unfortunately only very difficult-to-find street parking.
Wang Chung's is not a karaoke bar; it is a way of life.
Food? PSH, get outta here with that mess - food doesn't make you sing better! You know what does? ALCOHOL, and they have yummy drinks with cute names.
At this point I shouldn't have to say much more than that, but I'm gonna, just you watch.
As I vaguely referenced before, no food for purchase in Wang Chung's, but they totally allow outside food in. WINNER. Drink menu up near the entrance - flavored shots and drink specials are posted and delicious. Bartenders are always a delight, and they sing Closing Time at closing time! :)
Songs are always up to date, great selection - see for yourself on their website! (<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwangchungs.com%2Fsongs%2F&s=f18e26ae24beb8c12ceb2044524668365b215ce31a116674eae8e6136d293d1b" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://wangchungs.com/so…</a>)
Songs are $1 each, and there are two mics for everyone to share. Space is limited, but even if you get there when it's packed, the vibe is so friendly that you get over it.
Go to Wang Chung's, everybody's doing it.
P.s. - if you need to use the bathroom, it's in the face :D
18/31 31 Yelps Review Challenge
I've been here THREE times in the last week.
...I feel like I should end the review with that. I mean, isn't that enough to say how much I LoooOoOOoove this place?
Wang Chung's is one of the most unique places I've ever been. It's unique enough to pull me in so much that it's almost natural that I walk here after finishing work. Actually, it's DANGEROUSLY close as it's only a 2 minute walk from where I work. Dangerous with a capital D.
Yes, let's get it out of the way. It's a gay bar. But I'm straight. However, when I describe Wang Chung's to others, I don't say it's a gay bar. Why should that matter?? Instead, it's a place to grab a great drink and sing a bunch of songs with awesome people. It doesn't matter whether you like boys, girls, or toasters. It's a fantastic place to simply HAVE FUN.
The bartenders are IN-credible and I've never found a crowd I didn't like. I love how PASSIONATE people get into the songs they're singing. It's how you SHOULD sing when doing karaoke. None of that ''I'll sing, I guess...but oh this is so embarassing, tee hee hee," crap. This is a place to bellow out your favorites. Throw on your Cindi Lauper neon skirt or Snoop Dogg (Lion?) bling and imagine you're on a stage in front of thousands. The people here will praise your efforts, giving you confidence to perform an encore.
I'll also give them the imaginary 6th star for the free hugs. Who doesn't love hugs? Way better than a mint after closing out the tab.
Needless to say, I'm sold. If you see me check-in here, stop on by. I'm always looking for a backup for "Love Shack."
31 Yelps Review Challenge - October 2012 #2/31
A straight man walks into a gay bar...
...there is no punchline here unless you've heard my karaoke singing.
I took my wife out here on the eve of her birthday. This place is so hard to find that we even missed it while using Google Maps. Luckily, the neighbors upstairs directed us to this locale in the back of an alley.
Bartender Dan leaped out from behind the bar and greeted us with hugs. We felt instantly welcomed here. Wife and I had Dan make up a drink for us. He gave me a dark rum infused cocktail with house made ginger beer. He made wife a coconut pandan with egg whites. Yum! Drinks are excellent.
Karaoke is the name of the game here. You can view their song list on <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwangchungs.com%2Fsongs&s=93847175c6da23f89cda3ad1e1c681f84e13f90d8f326dea1e7deedf77c16f9e" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://wangchungs.com/so…</a>. Using your smartphone, you don't have to wait around for an annoying big song book like other karaoke 'stabs. I sang the same song I used to propose to my wife...Love Song by the Cure. She was having a great time and made some new friends.
I think there is a total of 12 barstools in this place so the crowd gets pretty chummy. I love the decor in here. A large Japanese lady's face over the bathroom door reminds me of the long lost Wave of Waikiki from years ago. You get a similar vibe in this bar too as the crowd sways a bit eccentric.
About 3 or 4 drinks and half a dozen songs later, my wife call it a night. Good thing we are within crawling distance to our hotel on this stay-cation.
Lots of fun! Â You select your songs via the website and your smartphone (very high-tech lawl) 4 stars because this place is SO tiny. Â There are barely places to sit so often you end up fighting for a seat at the bar or just standing. Â Heaven forbid you are wearing some SEXY but painful heels and now are forced to stand in them watching your friends belt out Journey as you unsuccessfully attempt to balance in your cute shoes, sip your beverage and suck in that tummy to appear* slim and poised. Â bah. Â Also, no snacks. Â
For my entertainment I much prefer a window seat at the Yard House, a Snakebite and some sweet potato fries. The end.
Wang Chung
If you are looking for a place with delicious drinks and friendly staff, check out
Wang Chung. Â We decided to go here based off of our fellow Yelper. Â Just a heads up, this is a Gay Bar, in case you didn't realize it. Â
We went here during our trip to Oahu and were celebrating Halloween. Â We decided to go bar hopping and this was our first stop. Â This place is amazing. Â From the great mix of drinks, friendly patron, and the lively crowd, what is there not to like about this place.
On the weekend, they offer karaoke, which is really fun if you are into that. Â It ends up being a group karaoke after everyone had enough to drink and knows the song.
We met the owner, Dan, one of the most down to earth people I've met. Â He is very knowledgeable about his drinks and carefully mixes everything perfectly. Â As guests were leaving, he was personally handing out water bottle for people to sober up. Â How thoughtful is that?!?!?! Â For anyone looking for a good drink, the watermelon vodka martini is BOMB! Â They also had Lychee vodka, which is fresh lychee soaking in a big container of vodka. Â You cannot miss it when you come in.
Only downside to this place is that it is a bit small, but that makes it more fun! Â Also, food is not served here. Â However, they always welcomed us to bring food if we are hungry.
I recommend this place to anyone and cannot wait for our next trip to Oahu.
5 star all the way. Â
3 things you must do when you get here...
1. Look for our picture on the big TV. Â
2. Tell Dan how much you LOVE green waffles and if he can make you a drink.
3. Ask him about the name of the bar, funny story.
Oh how we miss the relaxing life on Oahu...
Enjoy!
I think Wang Chung's is the definition of a hole in the wall bar. It's hidden away near King's Village in Waikiki and small enough that I could walk to the opposite side of the bar in 10 steps. And I've got short legs, y'all. But, if the saying is true that "it's not size of the boat that matters, it's the motion of the ocean", then this place has all the right moves.
Some reasons why I like Wang's:
-The bartenders are super friendly and quick and the owner, Dan, is so smiley. Â
-The drinks are reasonably priced.
-Great Karaoke song selection.
-Lychee vodka.
-Friendly atmosphere.
I personally prefer to go on the weekdays, since on the weekends it can get relatively crowded. Because it is a small bar, if 20 people decide to go at the same time then you'll be packed in like a sardine. Probably rubbing up on someone continuously too. Maybe that's why so many people go on the weekends and why  this bar is rated "the best of Yelp" when it comes to nightlife in Hawaii. All kidding aside, this bar has a lot of good things about it and definitely has found its niche. So, if you like intimate spaces, karaoke, and alcohol, check this place out!! Maybe it'll be the right fit for you.
Wang Chung's should be renamed to "FREE HUGS". Â Seriously forget Disneyland, this could be the happiest place on earth. I've never seen so many pearly whites shining..
GOOD:
(+) Dan, the owner, is crazy friendly and always accommodating making sure all his guests are well taken care of..
(+) Karaoke - Free until 8 and only $1/song thereafter. WAIT FOR THE BEST PART.. THE SONG LIST IS ON THEIR WEBSITE! <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwangchungs.com%2F&s=cbee2d2de48ec8c3b2d1f0649a617de22dababbc7dad36f455f7d2f5599d5977" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://wangchungs.com/</a>
(+) Drinks - Reasonably priced for Waikiki and the bartenders are always creative. Â I asked for "something red" and Dan served me a strawberry kamikaze and it was divine.
(+) Clean - LOVE LOVE LOVE a clean bar..
MEDIOCRITIES:
(/) The bar itself is small which can have its good and bads. Â Its great cause its more cozy, but its junk if you have a large party and the place is already hoppin' which is likely the case 7 days a week!
(/) Bathroom is 1 stall so if someone is droppin' the kids at the pool and you gotta go you'll be SOL. Â But at least their air freshener is top notch so it doesn't smell like you know what. :)
BAD:
(-) Parking.. Okay let's be real this is more a Waikiki problem in general than anything else. :)
(-) Hard to find.. If you're a wang chungs virgin, you best be knowing where to go or head there with someone who's been before. It's tucked away in the alley, not the most visible location.
This is my favorite bar in waikiki for sure! I love dan and will be back to patronize Wang Chung's on a regular basis. :)
Well, I didn't know this was a gay bar but that's the best kind of karaoke bar because everyone in dancing and singing!
This place is REALLY small, it can get tight so make sure you become best friends with your bar neighbor.
The thing I love about it is that because if it's size, you don't have to wait an entire hour for your song to come on, or an entire hour to speak with a bartender. ALSO!! Their karaoke list is ONLINE so you don't have to fight over the books!! Amazing right?
It's in a little alley way next to a popular musubi joint, so don't miss it!
I was determined to go to Wang Chung's for my B-Day weekend...and so I did. We called ahead of time to ask whether or not we could reserve seats since I knew the place got pretty crowded. Â They told us people can usually reserve the room for $200 an hour, we didn't want to do that so we decided to just arrive early...
Around 6:30pm on Friday night my gf and I arrived at Wang Chung's and since they don't sell pupus we were able to bring our own food, which came in handy later that night. There was hardly anyone there so while we waited for everyone to get there, we got to know Cory the bartender and Dan the owner, who quickly found out we were there to celebrate my birthday and next thing you know, I got leid...first surprise of the night. So I started to get comfortable and took advantage of their HAPPY HOUR: 5-8 daily: $3 domestics and $4 imports&wines. Later that night I also tried their $9 Keylime Pie drink, which was delicious, like dessert in a drink!
As the night progressed, more of my peeps started coming in, Wang's started getting crowded and most all 11 of us had a place to sit! So there we were laughing, eating, singing, and mingling and then another surprise...they pulled out a cupcake and sang Happy Birthday! I felt so special and just couldn't believe they did that!
So after a long night of singing to Shakira, we left at around 10pm and the place was packed! I couldn't thank them enough for making the start of my night very special! I can't wait to come back here!!!
As sung by Cory,
"You can forget all your troubles,
forget all your cares
and go, Wang Chung's"
I find myself craving their deeeeeelish drinks all the time. Â This is also coming from someone who isn't a big drinker. Â It's hard for me to find drinks that satisfies my palette and gets me tipsy at the same time but the drinks here always gets the job done! Â I've met so many new friends here since everyone is always so friendly. Â They are open until 2am again (YAY!) so there's no excuse not to be Wangin' every weekend!
P.S. They have the cleanest bar bathroom I've ever been to!
I can't really explain my experience here without saying: HOLY FRIED POTATO BALLS! WTH??? Â
So I went here on a date and we had a really fun time trying to find parking--we parked in this super sketch "public" parking lot in a basement with pipes that I could almost touch (and I'm super short). Â The pipes kept making noises like they might burst at any moment--hmm--no I don't want sewage on me, thank you. :) Â I would recommend parking at the zoo and traipsing over. Â It's much closer to Kapahulu than Seaside or Lewers.
Well, we roll up past Aloha Mart or Market or whatever it is and see the tiny sign on a gate to an alley. Â We hear the ummm, "singing" coming from a narrow passage. Â We brave in and are welcomed with smiling faces and loud "hellos!" Â I snag a seat at the bar--it was around 9:30-10 on a Friday and it filled up really fast. Â My date sort of lingered behind me and kept getting hit on by very nice gay men. Â I sat next to a belligerent and very unfunny young man in his early 30s and a sweet, adorable older woman who was maybe in her late 50s or early 60s. I chatted it up with them because I'm friendly like that and sang every single awful song that came on the prompter. Â By far the best was when "Piano Man" came on. :)
We only stayed an hour because that's all we paid for in the parking lot--so to the awesome gay guy who said he'd watch my drink and also my seat, THANK YOU and sorry we didn't come back. Â No worries, I WILL be back with all my girls and we will shut it down. :) I remember what you said even though I was super buzzed: MONDAYS, AA Meetings @ Wang Chungs. Â Got it.
So what does it take to get one of Chad Y's prestigious five-star reviews? Is it hosting a birthday party and having to clean up the cake on the floors after his friends cake him? Perhaps we should name not just one drink, but two drinks after the man himself? Why isn't that enough!? I'm sure all these thoughts went through Danny (the owner's head) after my many, many, many visits that would make me look like Norm at Cheers. At the end of the day, it's all about the service, the drinks (in this case), the ambiance, and the overall atmosphere that woo me over and Wang Chung's is simply the best in Honolulu.
I'm often asked, Is it gay? Is it straight? Is it for singles? Is it for couples? The answer to all these questions is simply all of the above! Wang Chung's is a place where things are left at the door and you can simply have a carefree and comfortable night filled with fun and some great cocktails.
While you will want to order your standard cocktail that you may have at any bar in any city, I encourage you to have that as your first drink so that you can properly compare the bar to anywhere in the world. Then, leave that drink behind and order one of the specialty cocktails that adorn its menu. Whether it is the Mexi-coke, Seleena's Lotus Flower, Ryan's Sweet and Sour Pucker, or a Chad's a Bottom, the wide ranging menu and the skills of their bartenders is its secret weapon. The bold flavors of the fresh fruit juices and the quality liquors make an incredible combination
The service is stellar and don't let a Chinese bear hug scare you away (it's not like a panda is coming after you). Dan (the owner) is often there to greet you with a smile and a hug, and if not Cory, Henry and the others are sure to greet you warmly that makes you feel you are at home, even if you might be from out of town. It is that warm feeling that brings the locals and tourists alike in a small patch of Waikiki that exudes the feeling of being at someone's living room.
Its size can be its biggest detriment on busy nights, but don't let it get to you. The crowd is more than accommodating and the wait for a drink is never long. Plus its really part of the charm that makes up Wang Chung's. Parking is also a pain, but when is it ever a joy in Waikiki. Plan for street parking, otherwise the King's Village lot is next door and is rather reasonable.
Karaoke is $1 per song after 8:00 pm or free before then (along with some great happy hour specials). The list is far reaching and is very up to date. It is hands down one of the best lists in town and is constantly being updated with the hits and some not so big hits (remember Rebecca Black?).
Wang Chungs...what you lack you more than make up for in other ways. You truly are the cream of the crop and offer one of the best bar experiences I have ever encountered.
I am a bad, bad, bad gay. Â I thought I had already reviewed this place, but came to find out, I haven't. Â I'm sure Dan wants to wring my neck. ;)
Synopsis: I always left this place happy! Â This hole in the wall is a very unique karaoke/bar, definitely. Â It's not every night you see the bartenders singing, while magically serving the bar drinks. Â On top of that, it's rare to see the owner, with the biggest/fattest smile greeting people and singing along as well. Â It's definitely the place to go to start your night early, and maybe continue until you feel like dancing and it's time to go to either Lojax or Fushions. Â Hulas...is quite a distance away. Â Although the place is small, you will have fun!
Environment: It's right after the Japanese restaurant in a small alley. Â You will see a sign outside with a fat white face and red lipstick. Â A fat geisha? Â I don't know. Â I think that's what it's supposed to be. Â Inside, you will see the same fat face, right after the bar to your right. Â Then you will know you are in the right place...or horrible singing (that's me!). Â On the left of you is the old communist Japanese flag painted, and then there is Godzilla painted on the wall with the "gi, gi, gi" sign in katakana. Â You will see on your left, a little comfy couch and stools facing the bar and by the bathroom. Â Before, the bathroom was outside, but after countless complaints, the bathroom was re-figured to be accessed within the bar. Â More convenient..YEA!
Parking: Um...yea! Â Good luck with that. Â Honestly. Â There is no such parking around the area. Â The closest may be about 2 blocks. Â If you don't know Waikiki...then I suggest wearing comfortable foot-wear. Â But at least the other gay clubs are not miles away, like Hulas.
People: The bartenders are always nice. Â They will hug you, kiss you on your cheeks, small back rubs. Â Hahaha....
Cost: Karaoke $1 a song. Â Before 8..I think though, it's free! Â LOOK INTO IT! Â Drinks are not too shabby, but I always find myself plastered before coming here anyway, I can't have another drink, but I can certainly use a kiss or meet hotties! Â :D
Songs: I commonly sing the only most current Japanese song they have, "cutie honey." Â I do wish they had more contemporary music, like GS studios. Â However, I do say that most people that go here are English-speaking anyway, so that may not benefit the bar..... Â They do, however, have good choices for English music that can have you singing all night! Â Sometimes, even the entire bar sings. Â :D Â Nice touch
If you're here, you're queer, or at least curious! Â Hmm..hm.. Â you can find me..I am the one with the BIGGG smile. Â ;)
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
